Our Team

Mara Larsen-Fleming

Director, Health and Wellness

Mara Larsen-Fleming was born and raised in Oakland, CA and is a proud product of Oakland Public Schools. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Mara had the opportunity to return to her high school Alma Mater to serve as Supervisor of the TechniClinic School-Based Health Center. Mara returned to UC Berkeley and received a dual Masters in Public Policy and Public Health. In 2009, Mara joined the OUSD team to lead the School-Based Health Center initiative. In this role, she supported a large School-Based Health Center expansion and worked to ensure the quality of care, sustainability and access at Oakland's existing SBHCs. As Director for Health and Wellness, Mara now supports the Health and Wellness unit within the Community Schools & Student Services Department, which houses health access, healthy school environment, and health education initiatives. Mara also serves on the Board of Directors for the California School Based Health Alliance. Contact Mara at: mara.larsen-fleming@ousd.org

Ilsa Bertolini

Coordinator, Health Education

Ilsa Bertolini has been working at OUSD since 2013, developing, designing, and expanding the Healthy Oakland Teens program. After receiving her BA from UC Santa Barbara, she headed to San Francisco where she is a proud alum of the Master’s in Sexuality Studies program at San Francisco State University. She is dedicated to public education and ensuring teachers have the knowledge, skills, and comfort in teaching comprehensive sexual health education to Oakland students and providing inclusive and welcoming spaces to LGBTQ youth. She works collaboratively with smart, dedicated educators in our schools and central office. Contact Ilsa at: ilsa.bertolini@ousd.org

Schmian Evans

LGBTQ Programming Specialist

Schmian Evans is an educator and public theologian. She holds a Master's Degree in Women and Gender Studies from San Francisco State University, a Master's in Divinity Degree with an emphasis in Sexuality and Religion from Pacific School of Religion, and a Bachelor's Degree in Gender Studies from California State University, Stanislaus. For nearly two decades, Schmian has worked on behalf of historically marginalized populations, serving as an educator, advocate and leader in a wide variety of settings. In her various roles, she remains dedicated to advancing the causes of equity and inclusion so that all may feel truly welcomed at "the table." Contact Schmian at: schmian.evans@ousd.org

Evan Fortin

TSA, Health Education

Evan Fortin was born and raised in the Bay Area. He has been working in Oakland schools for the past 10 years, primarily as a classroom teacher to grades 1st through 8th. He holds a multiple subject credential and a Masters in Education from Mills College where he was recognized for Innovation in Social Justice Practices in Education for his work developing curriculum on gender violence prevention and consent. He was a teacher fellow with Agency by Design Oakland, as well as a hometeam member with Stanford’s d.school k-12 lab. Evan obtained his B.A. in Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies from The Evergreen State College. Contact Evan at: evan.fortin@ousd.org

Eia Gardner

Program Manager, Health Access

Eia Gardner, a proud native of Oakland California has been working in OUSD since 2016. She has been a resilient advocate for students and families supporting health education and equitable access to quality health and wellness resources. Her combined passion for health education and youth development pushes her to integrate a health equity lens in everything she approaches. After receiving her BA from Agnes Scott College in Decatur Georgia, she worked in the health care setting and later went on to obtain a second Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta Georgia. Currently with OUSD, Eia supports school-based health expansion and health promotion across the district. Eia is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health from San Jose State University with an emphasis on Health Communication. She plans on continuing her efforts addressing health equity, ensuring that students and families have the knowledge, skills, and support needed to navigate the healthcare industry, and advocating for themselves and the community around them. Contact Eia at: eia.gardner@ousd.org

Katie Kelly-Hankin

TSA, Sexual Health Education

Katie Kelly-Hankin was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and has been living in the East Bay and working in Oakland public schools for the past 10 years. Over that time Katie has taught grades 5 through 9, with the majority of her time spent teaching middle school Science, Health, Puberty Education and Comprehensive Sexual Health Education.  She completed the Aspire Teacher Residency in 2012, where she earned her single subject credentials in Biology and Health Sciences, as well as her  Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from University of the Pacific. Katie joined OUSD in 2019 as the Teacher on Special Assignment for Sexual Health Education. In this role, she supports the development of the Healthy Oakland Kids and Healthy Oakland Teens comprehensive puberty & sexual health curricula, and provides training and coaching to the fantastic teachers of OUSD who deliver this essential content to students. Contact Katie at: katie.kelly-hankin@ousd.org